Umbrella showerhead assembly

ABSTRACT

A showerhead assembly includes a body which mounts to a ceiling of a shower through a flexible water supply conduit. The body is generally hollow such that water flows from the flexible water supply conduit though the body and out of the peripheral edge to dispense water in a random sheet-like pattern to provide a relatively broad water field to significantly cover a majority of a bather with a relatively large quantity of water. The flexible water supply conduit is mounted to a reel adjacent to the ceiling such that the body may be adjusted in height by reeling and unreeling the flexible water supply conduit. A handle located within the body provides for manipulation of the body. A hand held shower sprayer may also be mounted within the body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shower fixture, and more particularly to a showerhead assembly which provides a broad halo-like waterfall effect.

Oversized luxury showers and accessories are becoming increasing desirable in new construction and bathroom renovations. Such showers typically include one or more multi-function showerheads that have a plurality of spray modes, including various standard sprays and pulsed sprays. Multi-function showerheads may also have flow control valves to allow the user to adjust the flow pressure to a desired level. Other conventional showerheads provide simulated rainfall or waterfall experiences.

Although somewhat effective in providing such simulated experiences, conventional rainfall and waterfall showerheads may be lacking in simulating a significantly satisfactory flow of water to simulate being within a rain or water fall.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a showerhead assembly which provides a significantly satisfactory flow of water to simulate being within a rain or water fall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A showerhead assembly according to the present invention includes a body which mounts to a ceiling of a shower through a flexible water supply conduit. The water supply conduit communicates water into the body such that the water is dispensed from an peripheral edge thereof in an annular or halo-like pattern. The body is generally hollow such that water flows from the water supply conduit though the body and out of the peripheral edge to dispense water in a random sheet-like pattern to provide a relatively broad water field to significantly cover a majority of a bather with a relatively large quantity of water.

The flexible water supply conduit is mounted to a reel adjacent to the ceiling such that the body may be adjusted in height by reeling and unreeling the flexible water supply conduit.

One embodiment of the body includes a handle located within the body such that the body is readily manipulated by a bather.

Another embodiment locates a conventional hand held shower sprayer within the body. The hand held shower sprayer is retractably mounted to the housing such that the hand held shower sprayer may be reeled and unreeled from within the body to facilitate bathing.

The present invention therefore provides a showerhead assembly which provides a significantly satisfactory flow of water to simulate being within a rain or water fall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of a showerhead assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a showerhead assembly designed according to the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a sectional view of a showerhead assembly designed according to the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the showerhead assembly of FIG. 3A;

FIGS. 4-6 are bottom views of other showerhead assemblies which provide a specific waterfall pattern;

FIG. 7A is an expanded side view of a showerhead assembly;

FIG. 7B is a schematic view of a showerhead assembly in a reeled and unreeled position;

FIG. 8 is an expanded view of another showerhead assembly with a hand held sprayer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates a general perspective view of a shower 10. The shower 10 generally includes a base 12, one or more walls 14 and a ceiling 16. It should be understood that the term “base” is not limited to just shower bases but that relatively deeper tubs and the like will also benefit from the present invention. It should be understood that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed in the illustrated embodiment, other arrangements, e.g. molded surround or tiled construction will benefit from the instant invention. The shower 10 includes a showerhead assembly 18 mounted to the ceiling 16. The showerhead assembly 18 is preferably an overhead fixture.

The showerhead assembly 18 generally includes a body 20 which mounts to the ceiling 16 through a flexible water supply conduit 22. The water supply conduit 22 communicates water into the body 20 such that the water is dispensed from an peripheral edge 24 thereof in an annular or halo-like pattern. The body 20 is generally hollow such that water flows from the water supply conduit 22, though the body 20 and out of the peripheral edge 24. The body 20 is most preferably of a relatively large diameter and generally of shoulder width in diameter to increase the “waterfall” effect.

Referring to FIG. 2, the peripheral edge 24 includes a multiple of apertures 26 to provide an annular spray field. Preferably, a significant number of apertures are provided to generate an annular sheet of water rather than discreet spray jets. It should be understood that the term “annular” as utilized herein is not to be limited to merely a circular shape but includes other shapes such as those illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 as well as other open shapes.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the peripheral edge 24 is preferably an annular slot-like opening 32 (FIG. 4B) between an inner body surface 28 and an outer body surface 30 to dispense water in a random sheet-like pattern. Water flows from the water supply conduit 22 between the inner body surface 28 and the outer body surface 30 in sheets until surface tension is broken at the peripheral edge 24 in a random pattern.

Irrespective of the dispensing openings, the body 20 is preferably a relatively large umbrella or bell shaped member to provide a relatively broad water field to significantly cover a majority of a bather. The showerhead assembly 18 provides a random release of the water onto the bather to provide a significant halo-like water fall effect with a relatively large quantity of water.

It should be further understood that although the peripheral edge 24 in the illustrative embodiment is generally circular in shape, other peripheral edge shapes, such as rectilinear, and or discontinuous shapes (FIGS. 4, 5, and 6) will likewise be useable with the present invention to provide various waterfall patterns.

Referring to FIG. 7A, a handle 32 is preferably located within the body 20 such that the body 20 is readily manipulated by a bather. Preferably, the flexible water supply conduit 22 is mounted to a reel 34 adjacent to the ceiling 16 such that the body 20 may be adjusted in height (FIG. 7B) by reeling and unreeling the flexible water supply conduit 22 to, for example only, flow the water over a lower portion of the bather. The reel 34 is located within a mount 35 which may be attached directly to the shower ceiling 16 to facilitate shower renovations. Alternatively, the mount 35 may be recessed within the ceiling 16.

Referring to FIG. 8, a conventional hand held shower sprayer 36 is mounted within the body 20. The hand held shower sprayer 36 is preferably retractably mounted to a reel 38 within the body 20 such that the hand held shower sprayer 36 may be reeled and unreeled from within the body 20 to facilitate other more specific showering tasks. That is, not only may the body 20 be height adjustable, but the hand held shower sprayer will also be extendable therefrom.

Although particular step sequences are shown, described, and claimed, it should be understood that steps may be performed in any order, separated or combined unless otherwise indicated and will still benefit from the present invention.

The foregoing description is exemplary rather than defined by the limitations within. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, however, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. For that reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention. 

1. A showerhead assembly comprising: a body which receives a water flow therein such that said body delivers the water from a peripheral edge of said body.
 2. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said body is generally umbrella shaped.
 3. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said body is generally frusto-conical in shape.
 4. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said body is generally bell shaped.
 5. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said peripheral edge defines a circular perimeter.
 6. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said peripheral edge defines a rectilinear perimeter.
 7. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said peripheral edge defines a discontinuous perimeter.
 8. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a handle mounted within said body.
 9. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said body is mounted to a flexible water supply conduit connected to center of said body.
 10. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a hand held shower mounted within said body, said hand held shower extendable on a flexible conduit from within said body.
 11. A shower comprising: a shower ceiling; a body which receives a water flow therein such that said body delivers the water from a peripheral edge of said body; and a flexible water supply conduit which communicates water into said body, said flexible water supply conduit permitting said body to be extended and retracted relative to a mount attachable to said shower ceiling.
 12. The shower as recited in claim 11, further comprising a handle mounted within said body.
 13. The shower as recited in claim 11, wherein said body is mounted to a conduit such that said body may be retraced and extended from a ceiling of a shower.
 14. The shower as recited in claim 11, further comprising a hand held shower mounted within said body, said hand held shower extendable on a flexible conduit from within said body.
 15. The shower as recited in claim 10, wherein said body includes an inner surface and an outer surface, water from the flexible water supply conduit supplied between the inner surface and the outer surface to provide a sheeting of water.
 16. A method of showering water comprising the steps of: (1) communicating water into a body which delivers the water from an peripheral edge of the body to provide a shower of water.
 17. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of: adjusting a height of the body by reeling out a flexible conduit which communicates water to the body from a mount in a ceiling of a shower.
 18. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of: supplying water to a handheld showerhead assembly which extends from within the body.
 19. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of: defining the shape of the shower of water with the shape of the peripheral edge.
 20. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of: sheeting the water from the peripheral edge. 